Youth Participatory Action Research as a Strategy for Engaging Youth in Environmental Health Research

• In Event: Health promotion interventions involving children and adolescents: what works, for whom, and under which circumstances ?

Abstract

Most recently known for the nationally publicized Water Crisis, the city of Flint, MI also faces numerous obstacles to resident thriving (Heard-Garris, et al., 2017; Muhammad, et al., 2018). This is especially true for the youth of Flint. In response to youth concerns regarding a lack of efficacy based on Community Forums we held on the Water Crisis, we developed a curriculum to train adolescents to use different research methodologies to address, and advocate for, environmental social justice in their communities. A secondary goal of this training was to spark interest in biomedical careers (e.g., environmental health sciences; public health).
Using Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) methods for engaging youth in environmental health research, we developed a curriculum to train youth to use scientific principles and methods to examine and generate solutions for problems in their communities. However, few YPAR studies have been implemented in community settings (Lindquist-Grantz & Abraczinskas, 2018) due to challenges in recruiting youth into multi-session interventions held outside of their structured environments (e.g., schools). In other YPAR studies, youth-led engagement increased youth research capacity, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.
Pilot study data was collected from twenty adolescents (50% female, 95% Black, mean age = 15 years old). They completed two days of training in qualitative and quantitative research, community engagement, environmental health science, PhotoVoice, and disseminating findings through social media. After community and academic partner-led trainings,, the youth identified their own research questions and appropriate methods to address their questions. They completed fieldwork led by trained community facilitators representing different Flint neighborhoods. Each group prepared a PhotoVoice poster and presented their findings at a community forum in Flint.
Initial findings suggest that youth benefited from being part of YPAR, with 65% indicating the experience was excellent and 35% reporting it as very good. Youth felt somewhat (45%) or very prepared (35%) to recommend Water Crisis-related changes in their community due to their YPAR experience. 75% of youth reported greater self-efficacy for speaking with Flint decision-makers about improving the quality of life in their community. Post-YPAR, most said they would consider careers in environmental health sciences (30%), public health (15%) or medicine (40%). Pre and post-YPAR changes in racial identity feelings indicated that youth (see Table 1). One youth reported that “it was a great experience. I’m glad I got to be a part of something that most people don’t really care about and I’m also glad I got to make new friends and learn new things.” Another youth said that “I feel great about this program and if there is anything else I can do to help my community I will.” Additional findings from pre-posttest data will be discussed.

Authors

• Meredith Hope, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
  Presenting Author

• Simone Charles, University of Michigan
  Non-Presenting Author

• Cassandra Brooks, University of Michigan
  Non-Presenting Author

• Puja Patel, University of Michigan
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael Muhammad, University of Michigan
  Non-Presenting Author

• E Hill De Loney
  Non-Presenting Author

• Cleopatra Howard Caldwell, University of Michigan
  Non-Presenting Author